VIDEO GAMES! (p. jackson) (#1)

- four

THE NEXT MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST, Rose told Percy and Grover about her dream. They sat in the meadow watching the satyrs chase wood nymphs through the snow.

When she finished, they both looked nervous.

"A cave ceiling collapsed on her?" Grover asked.

"What does that mean?" Percy wondered.

Grover shook his head. "I don't know. But after what Zoë dreamed—"

"What did Zoë dream?" Rose asked.

"I don't know, exactly. About three in the morning she came to the Big House and demanded to talk to Chiron. She looked really panicked."

"How do you know this?" Rose asked, already knowing the answer.

Grover blushed. "I was sort of camped outside of the Artemis cabin."

"Why?"

"Just to... y'know, be near them."

"You're such a stalker, Grover."

"I am not! Anyway, I followed her to the Big House and hid in a bush and watched the whole thing. She got real upset when Argus wouldn't let her in. It was a bit scary."

"What did she say?" Percy asked.

"Well, she started talking in Shakespearean English, so it was a bit hard to understand. It was something about Artemis being in trouble and needing the Hunters. Then she called Argus a boil-brained lout."

"How could Artemis be in trouble?" Rose asked.

"I... well, finally Chiron came out in his pajamas and his tail in curlers—"

Percy and Rose shared a look before bursting into laughter.

Percy grinned and asked, "Chiron wears curlers in his tail?"

Grover covered his mouth as Rose tried to compose herself.

"Sorry," Percy said, but he was still smiling. "Go on."

"Well, Zoë said she needed permission to leave camp immediately. Chiron refused. He reminded Zoë that the Hunters are supposed to stay here until they get orders from Artemis. And she said..." Grover gulped. "She said, "How are we supposed orders from Artemis if Artemis is lost?""

"What do you mean, lost?"

"I think she means like, gone. Taken. Kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" Rose repeated. "How the fuck do you kidnap a goddess?"

"Well, it happened to Persephone."

"Artemis is more powerful than that," Percy said, "no offense to Persephone. Who could kidnap a goddess, and why?"

Grover shook his head. "I don't know, Kronos?"

"He can't be that powerful already, can he?"

"I don't know," Grover said. "I think somebody would know if Kronos had completely re-formed. The gods would be more nervous. But still, it's weird, Rose having a nightmare the same night as Zoë. It's almost like—"

"They're connected," Rose finished.

Over the frozen meadow, a satyr skidded on his hooves as he chased after a red-headed tree nymph. She giggled and held out her arms as she ran toward her. Pop! She turned into a scotch pine and he kissed the trunk at top speed.

"Ah, love," said Grover dreamily.

"I should go talk to Zoë," Rose said, standing up.

As she got up, she could hear Grover whispering something to Percy, but her she was too far to understand what they were saying.